swissstaffing - Verband der Personaldienstleister der Schweiz
Swiss Staffingindex: a Sobering Start to the Year for Staffing Service Providers
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Dübendorf (ots)
Economic slowdown impacts staffing service providers. The temporary and permanent employment markets are still in negative territory in the new fiscal year.
Negative figures were recorded for staffing service providers in the first quarter of 2025. The temporary staffing market started the fiscal year in the red for the third consecutive time. The number of hours worked in the staff leasing sector fell by 8.4 percent. The permanent employment market was down 24.6 percent. Traditionally regarded as sensitive to economic trends, the staffing services industry is feeling the economic uncertainty particularly strongly. In a phase in which the economy is slowing down anyway and geopolitical risks remain high, this development is being stoked by US customs policy under the current President, Donald Trump.
The Swiss economy is stagnating and threatens to slow even more in light of the global economic situation: "Many hiring companies are unsettled. They are struggling to predict their turnover and staffing requirements," explains Daniel Staffelbach, General Manager for Switzerland at Coople. They are accordingly reticent when it comes to taking on temporary staff. Donald Trump's customs policy is heightening the economic uncertainty that already prevailed prior to him taking office. At the same time, many companies are asking whether and when military defense packages abroad will positively affect the Swiss economy. This is forcing companies to consider the various scenarios. Staffelbach notes: "In many places, the permanent workforce has already been reduced to a minimum. In the case of unforeseen events, such as staff absences, peaks in orders or sudden increases in customer numbers, speed and flexibility are paramount - and it is then that companies turn to us as staffing service providers. The amount of time between companies reporting a need for staff and the first working day is getting increasingly shorter."
Outlook for the fiscal year
Future prospects remain restrained. Staffing service providers will be among the first to see the impact of the cut in growth forecasts recently reported by the Swiss Economic Institute (KOF) and the International Monetary Fund. The slowdown trend is therefore likely to continue. It can be seen in all sectors, including construction, industry and, most evidently, service professions. But there are some rays of hope. For example, private households are continuing to consume services in the leisure industry. This opens up new opportunities for staffing service providers, even in a demanding market phase.
Contact:
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Marius Osterfeld, Head of Economics & Politics
Tel: 044 388 95 70 / 079 930 45 25
marius.osterfeld@swissstaffing.ch
Celeste Bella, Head of Marketing & Communication
Tel: 044 388 95 65 / 079 388 94 22
celeste.bella@swissstaffing.ch
www.swissstaffing.ch